KNUT Secretary General Wilson Sossion (left) and Chairman Mudzo Nzili at a past conference. Image source: Business Daily
Teachers across the country will be smiling all the way to the bank to collect their September salaries which had been withheld by their employer, Teachers service Commission as penalty for participating the recent month-long strike.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, who has been opposed to increasing teachers pay by 60% as directed by the court, directed the TSC to reconsider paying teachers their dues. Speaking after holding talks with TSC and KNUT at State House on Tuesday, the President reiterated that teachers strikes and their demands have been recurring and this is the time to amicably solve the issues.
The President also added that TSC and the teachers unions should agree on a Collective Bargain Agreement (CBA) that will end the salary disputes. “I urge TSC to pay September salaries and union dues. The teachers who worked during the strike should be rewarded,” the president said.
Related: Why court of appeal threw out teachers’ 50-60% pay award
However, KNUT Secretary General, Wilson Sossion was conspicuously absent from the meeting. Analysts say he was isolated for his strong stand for teachers plight and tough position against the Jubilee government. On Monday, he vowed to mobile teachers to vote against the Jubilee administration in 2017, citing intimidation.
Kuppet boss Akelo Misori did not attend the meeting at State House last evening. It was announced teachers who worked for five weeks during the strike that ended on October 3 will be paid an extra allowance.
While some quarters have questioned the directive citing constitutional independence of Teachers Service Commission, teachers on the other hand have their battle half won and the struggle continues.
“The release of September salaries and all other accompanying third party deductions will bring life to the socio-economic ventures of teachers of this country,” said Mudzo Nzili, Chairman of KNUT.
This comes after a series of events that saw the court of Appeal nullify the 50-60% pay hike awarded to teachers by the Employment and Labour Relations Court. It remains to be seen whether KUPPET and KNUT will appeal the ruling in the Supreme Court next week as promised earlier.
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